LSE plan to break rank piles on pressure

The London School of Economics has applied for degree-awarding powers, putting further strain on the University of London, which currently awards its degrees, writes Alison Goddard.

Imperial College London and King's College London are also seeking their own degree-awarding powers.

Lord Young, chairman of the council at University College London, said that he would be surprised if UCL did not apply for its own degree-awarding powers.

University of London schools and colleges must award University of London degrees, but there are plans to review this situation. Graham Zellick, vice-chancellor of the University of London, said that proposals to change this rule would go to the next council meeting of the university.

He said: "I don't believe it is critical to the federation that all colleges give the University of London degree."

An LSE spokesperson said: "LSE applied for its own degree-awarding powers some time ago. We felt it was prudent to have the option to do this without necessarily exercising that right."